Agricultural smart irrigation

When you hear “smart irrigation,” the first thing that comes to mind is a bunch of sensors that decide everything themselves. But in reality, if you just stick sensors into the ground and wait for a miracle, you will end up with an expensive toy, not a system. Ten years ago, I also thought that it was enough to buy imported controllers - and here it is,Agricultural smart irrigation. The reality turned out to be more complicated: the same humidity sensor in clay soil near Astrakhan showed the weather in Australia until we switched to calibration for local conditions. And this is just the beginning.

Why simple automation is not enough

Many people still confuse irrigation automation with intelligent control. The difference is like between a timer on a tap and a system that takes into account the rainfall forecast, the growth phase of the crop, and even wind speed. For example, last season we set up a system for a vineyard in Crimea: if only the timer worked, then on a day with gusts of up to 15 m/s, water would scatter to neighboring areas. I had to integrate a weather station and rewrite the algorithm - now watering is activated only with winds up to 5 m/s.

Speaking of weather, it is often forgotten that data from government weather stations may not be accurate for a particular field. We install local sensors - not so much for beauty, but because a difference of 3-4 degrees between the regional station and our site already changes the calculation of evapotranspiration. This is especially critical for drip irrigation under vegetable crops, where an error of 10% in soil moisture can reduce yields by a quarter.

Another nuance is energy consumption. It would seem like a small thing, but when there is no stable voltage in the steppe zone, even the most advanced controllers can reset the settings. For a project in the Rostov region, we had to add backup batteries and stabilizers. By the way, we took some of the components for that order fromShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd— they have well thought out protection against power surges in field conditions.

Equipment: what really works and what is marketing

Now there are so many offers of 'smart valves' on the market that it's dizzying. But after testing 12 models, it turned out that a third cannot withstand our pressure of 6 atmospheres, another quarter becomes clogged with sand after a season. Valves with remote control have performed well - those that can operate both from a radio signal and via GSM. Especially in areas where there is no stable Internet.

Filtration is a separate headache. Standard mesh filters on canal water clog within a week. I had to combine: first a gravel filter, then a disk filter. For large farms, I recommend a modular system - exactly the same as in the cataloghttps://www.lyzhihuinongye.ru. They have options for different degrees of water contamination, plus you can purchase additional sections as the area expands.

Frequency converters are a useful thing, but not always justified. For pumps with a power of up to 7.5 kW, the savings on electricity pay for them only after 3-4 seasons. But for stations from 15 kW - already in two years. By the way, many do not take into account that the frequency generator needs to be protected from overheating: in the same Krasnodar region we installed additional radiators, otherwise in the summer they would break down every sunny day.

Integrating Water and Fertilizers: Where People Most Go Wrong

Fertigation is not just about 'adding fertilizer to water'. Without precise control of EC and pH, half the root system can be burned. In 2019, we almost destroyed the tomatoes in the greenhouse when the pH sensor began to 'lie' due to an old electrode. Now we change the electrodes once a season, despite the manufacturers’ assurances of a two-year service life.

Nutrient concentration is another pitfall. Peak nitrogen requirements occur at different phases for different crops. For example, the tillering period is critical for wheat, and the tuberization phase is critical for potatoes. If you pour the same solution all season, you will either not get enough harvest, or you will overpay for fertilizers.

Injection systems are a separate topic. Diaphragm pumps are more accurate, but more expensive to repair. Piston ones are cheaper, but can create pulsations that throw off sensor readings. We often use membrane ones for greenhouse complexes, and piston ones with dampers for field crops. By the way, in projectsShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,LtdHybrid solutions are often found - when injectors are selected to suit the budget and crop.

Field tests: what is not written in the instructions

Any smart irrigation system must first be tested in a small area. We usually take 5-10 hectares and test for 2-3 weeks. The most significant case was with humidity sensors - it turned out that at temperatures above 35°C, some models begin to overestimate readings by 15-20%. It’s good that they checked the entire area before launching.

Installation is 70% of success. You can buy the most modern equipment, but if the pipes are laid with incorrect slopes, there will be air pockets in the system. Once we had to shift 3 km of pipeline because of this. Now we always do a topographic survey of the site before design.

Maintenance - Many people think that a smart system does not require attention. In fact, once a month you need to check the calibration of the sensors, clean the filters and update the software. By the way, from Chinese manufacturers, includingShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd, software often comes out with “raw” firmware - there may be regular updates for the first six months. It's a little annoying, but mistakes are fixed quickly.

The Economics of Smart Irrigation: When It Really Pays Off

The first investments are always scary - from 50 to 200 thousand rubles per hectare. But if we consider not only the cost of equipment, but the full cycle, then for vegetable crops the payback is 2-3 years. For grains - longer, 4-5 years, but due to saving water and fertilizers.

Reduced labor costs are not an obvious advantage. One operator can operate the system over 500 hectares instead of 10 people with shovels. But you need to take into account that this operator needs to be paid more - he must understand both agronomy and electronics.

Seasonality is an important factor. In the southern regions, where 2-3 turns per season are possible, systems pay for themselves faster. In Central Russia it is slower. But even there, precision irrigation allows for stable harvests in dry years, when neighbors lose up to 40% of their harvest.

By the way, for large projects - such as those that implementShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd— it is often more profitable not to buy equipment, but to lease it with service. Especially if you don’t have your own specialists for regular maintenance.

The future of the direction: where to go next

Nowadays there is a lot of talk about AI in agriculture, but in practice it is too early to expect full-fledged artificial intelligence. The next 5-7 years of development will be in the area of ​​more accurate predictive models and integration with drones for monitoring.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is promising, but far from cities there are still problems with coverage. We are testing solutions on LoRaWAN - communication range is up to 15 km, energy consumption is minimal. It’s still a little damp, but for large fields without infrastructure it’s the only working option.

Standardization is a sore subject. Each manufacturer pulls the blanket on itself; equipment from different brands does not fit well together. It’s good that companies are emerging that offer comprehensive solutions - from design to construction. Just like thatShandong Linyao Intelligent Agriculture Technology Co.,Ltd, which do the full cycle: from equipment to the implementation of turnkey projects.

Overall,Agricultural smart irrigation- this is not about technology for technology's sake. This is about precise management of every cubic meter of water and every gram of fertilizer. And the main indicator of success is not the number of sensors per hectare, but a stable harvest at minimal cost. Everything else is tools.